President Obama campaigns with Corzine in Camden

John O'Boyle/The Star-LedgerGov. Jon Corzine greets President Obama at Newark-Liberty International Airport on Oct. 21. Obama is in the Garden State again today for a last-minute push for the governor before Tuesday's election.
CAMDEN -- President Obama, in his first of two campaign rallies today, told thousands of supporters that Gov. Jon Corzine deserves four more years to improve the state's troubled economy.

Obama never mentioned Republican candidate Chris Christie by name but criticized "Jon's opponent" for thinking New Jersey is the "only state in a tough time."

"That crisis didn't start under Jon’s watch. It wasn't a consequence of Obama policies, or Corzine policies," Obama said. "This crisis came about because of the same kind of lax regulation, the same kind of trickle-down economics, that the other guy's party has been pushing for years."

Obama said he and Corzine are mopping up an economic mess left by their predecessors, painting Republicans as do-nothing politicians starved for ideas.

"Don't stand there and say, 'How come you're holding the mop that way?'" he said. "Why don't you grab a mop? We don't need politicians who point fingers."

Obama implored his supporters to vote on Election Day.

"I'm going to need you to knock on doors. I’m going to need you to make phone calls," he said. "I'm going to need you to do the same thing you did last year."

The crowd, which Corzine's staff estimated at 6,500 people, was on its feet for Obama’s entire speech, cheering and occasionally interrupting him with shouts of adoration.

Corzine spoke before Obama, taking the stage to the driving beat of a Bon Jovi song. Promising to keep his remarks short, he said it's "an unbelievably exciting day."

"There's nothing more inspiring to be here in Camden . . . with our partner and our friend, President Barack Obama," Corzine said. "I'm honored to be with people who believe in the future of New Jersey and the American promise."

Corzine asked voters to remember the excitement of last year's presidential election.

"A year ago, New Jersey went to the polls -- just like we’re going to go on Tuesday, right? -- and said, 'Yes we can! Sí se puede!'" Corzine said. "Are you ready to keep it going?"

Corzine said the election is not about himself or Christie, but the "values we champion and the choices we make." He accused Christie of campaigning with the "extremist" Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), the congressman who shouted "You lie!" during Obama''s recent speech to Congress.

"Today I'm standing with President Obama," Corzine said. "That tells you all you need to know about what we stand for and what they stand for."

Sen. Dana Redd (D-Camden), who is running to succeed Faison as mayor, raised the specter of former president, George W. Bush. "We cannot afford to let Bush Republicans slip into the Statehouse," she said. "We're not going to let them take the state of New Jersey."

Donald Norcross, who is seeking the seat of retiring Assemblyman Joseph Roberts (D-Camden), said Corzine will support union workers. "That other guy who's running, Christie, wants to fire people," Norcross said. "Corzine understands what's important to working families."

Internal Democratic politics also reared their head when Norcross extolled union pride by saying the next state Senate president will be "an ironworker, Steve Sweeney."

The final stages of the Codey-Sweeney tug-of-war won't play out until after Election Day, but Sweeney has claimed support from the majority of Senate Democrats.

Today marks Obama's third campaign trip to New Jersey, and he's scheduled for another event later today at the Prudential Center in Newark Democrats hope rallies with the country's first African-American president will spur the large minority populations in both cities to cast their votes for Corzine.

Corzine's running mate, Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), said it's important for Democrats to re-energize voters who turned out in huge numbers for Obama.

"We always call them the 'once in four years' voters, who only vote for president," she said. "When it came to Obama, there were literally hundreds of thousands of those. If we can motivate even a small percentage of them, it gives us a great boost."

Deloris White, 66, of Camden is one of those reverent Obama supporters.

"I love Barack Obama," said White, who wore a hat emblazoned with the president's name. "I'm going to vote for Jon Corzine. I would never vote for a Republican."

It was a common sentiment among the voters waiting in line. Shirley Butler, 72, of Delanco, said she's "a little on the fence" about Corzine because her taxes are high. But she added, "I'm a Democrat, so I'll stay that way."

Her daughter, Val Butler, 47, of Riverside, said she's also voting for Corzine although she's unsure he'll change things in the state.

"New Jersey is in a hole," she said. "I don't know if either party can really rectify this."

Republicans have downplayed the role of "celebrity endorsements" like Obama's, although Christie has appeared alongside Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani.

After holding a series of low-key kitchen table and living room meetings with voters in recent weeks, Christie is now barnstorming around the state in his campaign bus.

Independent candidate Chris Daggett, aboard his own bus, has also been traversing the state by bus, down in the polls but still hoping to rally support.